Description
Homemade Rice Pilaf is a warm, flavorful side dish featuring light, fluffy long grain rice sautéed with aromatic onions and garlic, simmered in savory broth, and infused with fragrant spices. Perfectly complemented by optional toasted nuts and fresh herbs, this versatile pilaf enhances any meal from roasted meats to vibrant vegetables, offering a comforting yet elegant addition to your table.
Ingredients
Scale
Rice and Liquids
- 1 cup Long Grain Rice
- 2 cups Chicken or Vegetable Broth (hot)
Fat and Aromatics
- 2 tablespoons Butter or Olive Oil
- 1 small Onion or 2 Shallots, finely chopped
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
Spices
- 1 Cinnamon stick (or substitute with 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon)
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 2 Whole Cloves
Optional Additions
- 1/4 cup Toasted Nuts (such as slivered almonds, pine nuts, or walnuts)
- 2 tablespoons Fresh Herbs (parsley, cilantro, or dill), chopped
- Optional Vegetables: 1/2 cup diced carrots, peas, or bell peppers
Instructions
- Preparing the Aromatics: Finely chop onions and garlic. Heat butter or olive oil over medium heat in a pan. Sauté the onions until translucent and soft, then add the garlic and cook briefly to infuse the oil without burning.
- Toasting the Rice: Add the long grain rice to the pan with the aromatics. Stir continuously to toast the grains until they become slightly nutty in aroma and appear translucent around the edges. This ensures fluffy and separate rice after cooking.
- Adding Spices and Broth: Add the cinnamon stick, bay leaf, and cloves to the pan. Pour in the hot chicken or vegetable broth. Stir gently to combine all flavors. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then cover the pan and reduce heat to low to simmer.
- Simmering to Perfection: Cook the pilaf covered over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, or until all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. Avoid lifting the lid frequently to ensure even cooking.
- Final Touches: Turn off the heat and allow the rice to rest, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff the pilaf with a fork and stir in toasted nuts or chopped fresh herbs if using to add texture and freshness before serving.
Notes
- Rinse Your Rice: Wash the rice under cold water to remove excess starch and prevent stickiness, helping achieve fluffier grains.
- Use Warm Broth: Preheat the broth before adding to maintain a consistent cooking temperature and speed up the cooking process.
- Avoid Over-Stirring: Stir the rice only during toasting and once after cooking to keep the grains fluffy and separate.
- Cover and Let Rest: Let the pilaf rest after cooking to allow steam to finish tenderizing the rice.
- Customize Spices Carefully: Add whole spices during cooking and remove them before serving to balance flavors without overpowering.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop Cooking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
Keywords: rice pilaf, homemade rice pilaf, side dish, savory rice, flavored rice, easy rice recipe, aromatic rice, pilaf with nuts, vegetarian rice pilaf